And that was an entire thing in and of itself, Charlotte believing she was ready for a real adult relationship with Sutton. She’d never really done it, so how would she know? How would Charlotte know if she was ready?
She thought this friendship angle might be smart, to test the waters, so to speak, and move at a pace Sutton was comfortable with, while also seeing her own limits. She had to know how their lives could truly fit together before getting ahead of herself.
Because the last thing she wanted was to havemorewith Sutton and realize she was wrong. She couldn’t break Sutton’s heart again; she wouldn’t.
She didn’t expecttheWelcome Back!basket Sutton brought to her when they met up for the first time once she was back in D.C.
She looked down at the basket in her hands, eyebrows lifting in surprise, before moving her gaze back up to Sutton. “You know I was only gone for less than two weeks, right?”
Sutton’s cheeks colored slightly as she coughed into her hand. “I—yes. Obviously. But I took to making these for Regan and Emma whenever they left to go somewhere longer than a few days because Lucy finds it really fun, so… it just… happened.” Brilliant blue eyes shut tightly as Sutton shook her head. “Actually, it was silly. Here, I’ll take it back.”
Charlotte hugged her arms securely around the basket, holding it closer to her as she arched a sharp eyebrow up at Sutton. “You can’t take this back; it’s my basket now.”
She led them to sit on the couch, combing through the items in said basket.
“It’s just some little knickknacks,” Sutton explained, clearly a little embarrassed as she settled in next to Charlotte and watched her look through the items. “Lucy decorated that little Christmas ornament.”
Charlotte picked up the rather messily painted bulb, though there were admittedly charming hearts distinguishable on it, as her lips tugged into a grin. “Thank her for me, please.”
She reveled in Sutton’s quiet little smile before turning back to the basket.
“Chocolate chip cookies,” Charlotte commented, excitement moving through her as she lifted the container up. “Homemade?”
Sutton looked at her as through she were utterly crazy. “Of course. Don’t insult me.”
Charlotte cupped her hands around the Tupperware. “If these are the cookies I’m remembering, I really enjoyed the sea salt in them.”
“They are,” Sutton was quick to say before she cleared her throat. “I know you didn’tlovedesserts. Not as much as I do, anyway.” Sutton’s voice was so soft that it made everything inside of Charlotte yearn to match its mellow cadence.
She couldn’t believe Sutton remembered that. She’d only made the cookies twice in their tenure together, and Charlotte, as someone who didn’t overtly love sweets, had picked at them. Mostly, she’d eaten one the first time Sutton sheepishly handed a couple over because she just didn’t want to cause any frowns on Sutton’s gorgeous face. Her actual enjoyment of the dessert had been a delightful surprise.
But Sutton hadremembered?
God, she knew they were only friends, but it meant so much in her solitary heart that she wasn’t the only one with all of the memories they’d made still so vivid.
“Thank you, darling.”
The endearment slipped out before Charlotte could even realize she’d said anything, and everything inside of her froze—too much, too fast—as she slid her gaze to Sutton, waiting to see how she’d react.
Sutton’s posture was rigid for a few moments, her face looking shell-shocked before she recovered. “Um, you’re welcome.” She quickly reached into her bag and cleared her throat. “I—actually, did you look over the email I sent you?”
Charlottemost definitely didn’t expect what happened to her the following Thursday night, when Sutton called her for the first time.
Excitement shot through her when she saw Charlotte’s name on her caller ID; it was just after five, and she’d been working since quarter past six this morning. To say Sutton would be the most welcome surprise would be the world’s biggest understatement.
“Well, hello, stranger,” she answered the phone.
“Hi,” Sutton’s slightly breathless reply came. “Sorry, I’m just managing a ton of th—Luce, if you jump on that couch one more time, your Halloween candy will be meeting the trash.”
“Sorry, Mama!” came the faint reply. After dinner with her, and a video Sutton had sent, Charlotte could recognize her voice.
“Is this a bad time? Youdidcall me,” she reminded Sutton with an endeared laugh.
Sutton chuckled back. “Right, I did. I just wanted to make sure we were still on for this weekend? Since we have the notes back from the editor and everything.”
“Yes,” she replied, wondering if she’d spoken too fast to sound natural, but in the past two months, she hadn’t canceled on Sutton once. Truthfully, she only would if there was a literal national emergency. “Of course.”
“I just wasn’t sure because I know you’ve been so busy this week; I mean, you worked until nine yesterday,” Sutton’s reply came with gentle reproach. “That can’t be healthy.”
